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(Note: Yin-Yang Intersection, Size Reversal.)

North-South Sovereignty Diagram [Image Placeholder]

The concept of "North-South Sovereignty" (Nan Bei Zheng) arises because among the Five Movements (Wu Yun), Earth is honored, residing in the Center and governing Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire. Therefore, in the Ten Heavenly Stems, the Earth movements of Jia and Ji years are regarded as the image of the "Monarch." The monarch faces South to issue commands, thus these years are called "South Sovereignty" (Nan Zheng). The remaining eight years—Yi, Geng, Bing, Xin, Ding, Ren, Wu, Gui—are regarded as the image of the "Minister." The minister faces North to receive commands, thus they are called "North Sovereignty" (Bei Zheng). In South and North Sovereignty years, there should be respective pulse positions that are "non-responsive" (Bu Ying, i.e., imperceptible or weak). If a position that should be non-responsive is responsive, or one that should not be non-responsive becomes so, this is termed "Yin-Yang Intersection" (Yin Yang Jiao) or "Size Reversal" (Chi Cun Fan), which indicates pathology.

Pulse Non-Responsiveness Diagram for South Sovereignty Years [Image Placeholder]
Jia and Ji years are South Sovereignty.

Pulse Non-Responsiveness Diagram for North Sovereignty Years [Image Placeholder]
Yi, Ding, Xin, Gui, Bing, Wu, Geng, and Ren years are North Sovereignty.

South and North Sovereignty involve different movements, with distinct upper and lower Yin and Yang, leading to specific pulse non-responsiveness. The *Su Wen: Treatise on the Great Movement of the Five Yun* states: "First establish the year to know the Qi; observing the corresponding manifestations on the left and right allows one to speak of the reversals and smoothness of life and death." If incompetent physicians do not understand this and indiscriminately diagnose cold or heat, applying treatment arbitrarily, no harm is greater than this.

The term "North-South Sovereignty" refers specifically to Jia and Ji years being South Sovereignty, and all others being North Sovereignty. The *Su Wen: Treatise on the Most Essential and Necessary* asks: "How is the pulse at the Cun Kou (radial artery) where Yin resides?" Qibo replies: "By observing whether the year is South or North Sovereignty, it can be known." This means that in South Sovereignty years, the monarch faces South to issue commands, and the Qi is in the South. Thus, South represents Upper and North represents Lower. Si Tian (Sovereign Heaven Qi) is above, and Zai Quan (Ruling Spring Qi) is below. Human Qi responds accordingly, so the Cun (inch) position represents Upper and Chi (cubit) position represents Lower, with both left and right sides being identical. In North Sovereignty years, the minister faces North to receive commands, and the Qi is in the North. Thus, North represents Upper and South represents Lower. Zai Quan corresponds to the Upper, and Si Tian corresponds to the Lower. Human Qi also responds accordingly, so Chi corresponds to Upper and Cun corresponds to Lower. Specifically, Si Tian corresponds to both Chi pulses, Zai Quan corresponds to both Cun pulses, the Left Intercalary of Earth corresponds to the Right Cun, the Right Intercalary of Earth corresponds to the Left Cun, the Left Intercalary of Heaven corresponds to the Left Chi, and the Right Intercalary of Heaven corresponds to the Right Chi. This aligns with the principle that men receive Qi facing South, while women receive Qi facing North.

"Pulse non-responsiveness" refers to the phenomenon where, at the location of Yin, the pulse is deep and fine, failing to reflect its normal character. Here, "Yin" refers to the Three Yin and Three Yang of the Six Qi. Among the positions of the Three Yin, Shao Yin is central, Tai Yin is on the left, and Jue Yin is on the right. The discussion of pulse non-responsiveness focuses on the position occupied by Shao Yin within the Three Yin, distinguishing between North and South Sovereignty to determine upper and lower relations. Thus, the *Treatise on the Most Essential and Necessary* states: "In North Sovereignty years, if the Three Yin are below (Zai Quan), the Cun pulse does not respond; if the Three Yin are above (Si Tian), the Chi pulse does not respond." In South Sovereignty years, if the Three Yin are in Si Tian, the Cun pulse does not respond; if the Three Yin are in Zai Quan, the Chi pulse does not respond. It further states: "In North Sovereignty years, if Shao Yin is in Zai Quan, the Cun Kou pulse does not respond." This is precisely because in North Sovereignty years, Si Tian corresponds to Chi and Zai Quan corresponds to Cun. If Jue Yin is in Zai Quan, the right side does not respond; "right side" refers to the Right Cun, because Shao Yin is to the left of Jue Yin, and the Left Intercalary of Earth corresponds to the Right Cun. If Tai Yin is in Zai Quan, the left side does not respond; "left side" refers to the Left Cun, because Shao Yin is to the right of Tai Yin, and the Right Intercalary of Earth corresponds to the Left Cun. In South Sovereignty years, if Shao Yin is in Si Tian, the Cun Kou pulse does not respond; here "Cun Kou" refers to both Cun positions, precisely because in South Sovereignty years, the Upper is Cun and the Lower is Chi. If Jue Yin is in Si Tian, the right side does not respond; "right side" refers to the Right Cun, because Shao Yin is to the left of Jue Yin and occupies the position of the Right Cun. If Tai Yin is in Si Tian, the left side does not respond; "left side" refers to the Left Cun, because Shao Yin is to the right of Tai Yin and occupies the position of the Left Cun. Although the classic text does not state everything explicitly, mentioning Zai Quan in the context of North Sovereignty implies Si Tian is included; mentioning Si Tian in the context of South Sovereignty implies Zai Quan is included. Therefore, it is said: "For all non-responsive cases, reversing the diagnostic approach reveals them." "Reversing the diagnostic approach" means diagnosing contrary to the North/South sovereignty norms, which will naturally become clear. Thus, in North Sovereignty years, if Shao Yin is in Si Tian, both Chi pulses do not respond; if Tai Yin is in Si Tian, Shao Yin is on the right, so the Right Chi does not respond; if Jue Yin is in Si Tian, Shao Yin is on the left, so the Left Chi does not respond. In South Sovereignty years, if Shao Yin is in Zai Quan, both Chi pulses do not respond; if Tai Yin is in Zai Quan, Shao Yin is on the right, so the Right Chi does not respond; if Jue Yin is in Zai Quan, Shao Yin is on the left, so the Left Chi does not respond. The principles regarding the location of Yin are detailed in Section 5 of the *Qi Yun Class*.

"Yin-Yang Intersection" and "Size Reversal" refer to specific pathological reversals. For example, in a year when Shao Yin is on the left, the left pulse should be non-responsive, but instead appears on the right; the Yang pulse, originally on the right, shifts to the left. This indicates an exchange of positions belonging to Shao Yin, involving either Shao Yang or Tai Yang pulses, hence termed "Yin-Yang Intersection." "Intersection" implies death, occurring only in the eight years of Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei, Yin, Shen, Si, and Hai. "Size Reversal" occurs when, for instance, Shao Yin is at the Chi position, so the Chi pulse should be non-responsive, but instead appears at the Cun; the Yang pulse, originally at Cun, shifts to Chi. Hence termed "Size Reversal," implying death, occurring only in the years of Zi, Wu, Mao, and You. However, it must be that both Yin and Yang intersect to constitute "Intersection"; both Size (Cun and Chi) must reverse to constitute "Reversal." If merely the expected non-responsiveness fails to occur at its proper position, it is simply non-responsiveness of Yin Qi, representing mere disease, and does not fall under the categories of Yin-Yang Intersection or Size Reversal. One must not adhere rigidly to fixed rules.